(PHOTO: FRANKLIN GRAHAM FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali – one of the world’s greatest sporting figures – died at the age of 74.
The former world heavyweight champion died late on Friday at a hospital in the US city of Phoenix, Arizona, having been admitted on Thursday.
He had been suffering from a respiratory illness, a condition that was complicated by Parkinson’s disease.
As the Christian post reports, Franklin Graham, the son of famous Evangelical leader Billy Graham, has recalled a meeting between his father and boxing great Muhammad Ali, where the latter, a devoted Muslim, said if he were a Christian, he’d have wanted to be like Billy Graham.
Franklin Graham also wondered, however, about the state of Ali’s soul, arguing that his Islamic faith would not have saved him.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, he shared a photo of a meeting between Billy Graham and Ali in Louisville, Kentucky, in June 2001, and recalled that they had met before in North Carolina in 1979. After that meeting, Ali apparently said:
“I’ve always admired Mr. Graham, I’m a Muslim and he’s a Christian, but there is so much truth in the message he gives, Americanism, repentance, things about government and country — and truth. I always said if I was a Christian, I’d want to be a Christian like him.”
Graham reflected: “My father always hoped Ali would give his life to Christ. I’ve wondered if he put his faith and trust in Christ before he slipped into eternity. I sure hope so. Islam’s Muhammad can’t save you, only Jesus Christ can save.”
Ali was known to have been a devoted Muslim, with his daughter, Hana, revealing on Twitter details about his final hours.
BBC.COM: How Ali wanted people to remember him
“I would like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous and who treated everyone right.
“As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him…who stood up for his beliefs…who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love.
“And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.”
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
